Murray to refund $50,000 in illegal contributions, pay $30,000 fine

The state agency that oversees campaign finance has determined that Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and his political committee violated state law by accepting campaign contributions that were illegally raised.

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The state agency that oversees campaign finance has determined that Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and his political committee violated state law by accepting campaign contributions that were illegally raised.

Former Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, along with his campaign committee, has agreed to pay a total of $80,000 in penalties to settle allegations that he accepted contributions that were illegally solicited by the former Chelsea Housing Authority director Michael McLaughlin and another state official.

The agreement was announced Thursday by Attorney General Martha Coakley and the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Murray now heads the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The former lieutenant governor will not face criminal charges but McLaughlin was indicted Thursday by a Suffolk County grand jury for allegedly soliciting illegal contributions from state workers for Murray and other campaigns.

In a statement, Murray said he should have been more vigilant and has learned from his mistakes.